ABOUT US
VISION & MISSION
Europe is spiritually dying. More than 98% of Europeans do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. For decades, Christianity has been steadily declining across Europe, making the continent once famous for sending out missionaries, now in urgent need of them.
European Initiative exists to bring the gospel to a lost Europe. As an American mission organization based in Europe, EI serves as a spiritual bridge between the continents. EI mobilizes teams of Christians to partner with European churches and ministries on a variety of short-term mission trips. Our primary mission is to share the gospel with unbelieving Europeans in one-to-one conversations. The focus of our American and European staff members is to change Europe, one life at a time.
Let’s Go!
Since its inception, EI has mobilized hundreds of mission teams to Europe. Tens of thousands of Europeans have been impacted for eternity by the gospel. EI teams engage in one or more of our five initiatives: evangelism, compassion to the poor, church equipping, prayer/worship, and blessing the Jewish people.
It is our great privilege to teach, train, inspire and mobilize our European partners to move beyond the four walls of the church, and to engage in the harvest fields of their continent. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our European brothers and sisters, committed to helping ignite a spiritual awakening across Europe.
Europe is not without hope. Jesus is moving mightily across this great continent calling prodigal sons and daughters home. The fields are ripe for harvest and by His grace, we won’t stop until all have heard.
Jeff and Barbara Serio founded European Initiative in December 2006. The vision began with the careful observation of an overwhelming spiritual need throughout Europe. This frontline mission organization has been conducting evangelism and humanitarian outreaches in Europe since 2007.
European Initiative currently operates regional bases in Berlin, Budapest, Madrid and Istanbul. Each base is staffed with dedicated, servant-focused team members. The organization also networks with European churches and local ministries coordinating the incoming teams that come on short-term missions trips to Europe.
Jeff and Barbara have always had a heart for missions. Following his successful 20-year career in television advertising, Jeff served on staff as an elder at a vibrant missions-sending church in a suburb of Dallas, Texas. He and his wife were honored to be sent out by the church on multiple short-term missions trips, providing pastoral care and oversight for missionary families. These trips deeply impacted Jeff and Barbara’s lives and were instrumental in their decision to relocate to the mission field.
The Story Continues...
In 1998, Jeff and Barbara moved their family of six to Budapest, Hungary to launch a Bible school, discipling Eastern European Jewish people who had come to faith in the Messiah. It was during these years from the late ‘90’s to early 2000’s, that the Serios began to develop a burden for all of Europe. In December 2006, Jeff and Barbara formed European Initiative. Nine months later, in the summer of 2007 they moved their family to Berlin, Germany, and European Initiative was in action! The following summer, 5 American church teams came to Germany to share their faith in Jesus Christ - 11 Europeans were saved. Since that time, hundreds of teams have come to Europe. Through the years, EI staff and incoming teams have reached tens of thousands of Europeans.
The tapestry of God’s faithfulness continues to impact lives today through the diverse ministries of European Initiative. What began as a “mustard seed” of vision in 2006, today is a growing team of European and American staff who relentlessly share the gospel across the continent. Europe will be saved, one life at a time.
Would you like to know our doctrinal beliefs?
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We Believe:
- …that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, divinely inspired and absolute truth. It is the supreme authority in all matters on which it speaks.
- …that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- …that Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God, possessing all the attributes of Deity. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, provided a one-time sacrifice for the sins of all mankind through His atoning death, was bodily resurrected, ascended into heaven to the right hand of the Father, and will return in power and glory.
- …that the Holy Spirit empowers believers today to be conformed to the image of Christ, evidenced by His fruit, gifts, and a holy life. The Holy Spirit’s work of healings and other miracles continues today as they did with the first-century believers.
- …that Salvation is by no other means than grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. This free gift is received by: 1) recognizing that our human nature is corrupted by sin, 2) and by opening our heart to Jesus and making Him our Lord and Savior, by a surrender of our will. All who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior can have full assurance that they are saved unto the resurrection of eternal life. All who reject Him (disbelief) will suffer the consequence of judgment for their sins and will be separated from God for eternity.
- …that the Church is the global body and bride of Christ, united through one Spirit, one Lord, one faith. Its commission is to know Him and then to make Him known to the world.
- …that followers of Jesus are called to evangelize and disciple those yet to believe. They are called to proclaim Jesus with the fruit of their lives, the words of the gospel and by the power of the Holy Spirit, to a lost world, to win as many as possible.
European Initiative’s BASES
European Initiative established its first base in Berlin, Germany in 2007. Over the years the Berlin base has engaged in many different evangelism outreaches to bring hope to those in need - the homeless, those in addiction, desperate women in red light districts, and many others. The base also engages in weekly evangelism outreaches in Berlin and throughout Germany. EI often partners with like-minded churches and believers who share our desire to see Germany reignited to worship God.
Berlin Base
In 2018, EI launched its second base in Budapest, Hungary. God has opened many doors to reach Hungary. The Budapest team engages in weekly gospel conversations with students in public schools in Budapest and nearby towns. They are involved in weekly evangelism to bring the gospel to the Hungarian people. As well as, visiting Roma (Gypsy) villages to bring hope to communities that are often overlooked.
Budapest Base
Istanbul is Europe’s largest city and while the majority of Turks are faithful Muslims, many are searching for answers elsewhere - whether worldly pursuits or other faiths. Some have even turned to atheism. For those who are spiritual seekers, European Initiative staff and its partners discreetly offer Turkish people a pathway to faith in Jesus.
Istanbul Base
Madrid is EI’s newest base, but EI has been active in ministry in Spain since 2010. Our Spanish base partners with local churches from Barcelona in the north to Malaga in the south. EI has even evangelized in the southernmost region of Spain – the Canary Islands. Some would say that a revival in Spain is impossible, we think differently. Many believers in Spain are joining EI to reach their nation.
Madrid Base
SEE THE 2025 IMPACT
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“When you leave the comfort of your life and make yourself weak before the Lord, He changes more in your heart in 20 days than you ever could by yourself in your whole lifetime. Regardless of whether you have friends going with you or not, the people you meet will leave you as family.”
- Ella
Texas,USA